Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

ben1000

Cadet
Joined
Jun 19, 2012
Messages
14
Howdy...

First post! Yea!

I just purchased my first outboard, a Tohatsu 6hp 4-stroke...

I'm wondering if it's ok to break it in sitting on a stand in a garbage-can full of water? I could wait till I'm on the lake, but I'd rather get the slow stuff done on the stand... Is this ok?

Thanks for the info!

Best,

Ben
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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45,907
Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

Howdy, Ben.

Welcome to iboats. :)

I think an outboard, like a car, needs to be broken in under load, Ben. That means on the water.
 

nwcove

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May 16, 2011
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6,293
Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

welcome to iboats!! i would not consider trying to break in an engine in a barrel, it should be broken in under normal operating conditions. ( break in instructions should be in your manual)
 

ben1000

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Jun 19, 2012
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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

welcome to iboats!! i would not consider trying to break in an engine in a barrel, it should be broken in under normal operating conditions. ( break in instructions should be in your manual)

Thanks. Will definitely follow the manual..

I'd like to at least start it and idle it for a few minutes in the tank on the stand, just to check for correct operation... Or am I way off base here?

Ben
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

no harm in testing in a barrel. Just don't run the speed up above fast idle.

and welcome to iboats!

(I guess foodfisher got confused and thought he was on match.com)
 

foodfisher

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Feb 18, 2009
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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

What income? Was just curious due to your exuberance. Sorry
 

ben1000

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Jun 19, 2012
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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

No worries. I'm 41. Not new to boating or forums, but always had inboards before, so this is my first outboard and first time on this particular forum.

Yes, you can be over 40 and still be exuberant! :)
 

Frank Acampora

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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

WOW! Exuberant---I have trouble with four syllable words. LOL
 

JimS123

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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

Its OK to break it in on the stand....then it will be broke!

When in doubt, read the owners manual. If its new it came with one. They know better than anyone on the internet.
 

ben1000

Cadet
Joined
Jun 19, 2012
Messages
14
Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

Yes, but the owners manual does not say anything about use of a stand or not... I appreciate everyone who says 'read the manual', but the manual are often not comprehensive. If they were, there'd be no forums :)
 

JimS123

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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

Owner's manuals typically advise to vary the speed for so many hours, don't go above 3/4 throttle for x hours, then short bursts of WOT for yet y hours. To me its intuitive that the boat be in the water.

Just like an auto owner's manual that describes use of the cruise control. They don't usually advise against going to sleep or moving to the back seat because its intuitive that the driver must stay in the driver's seat.
 

Home Cookin'

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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

Just like an auto owner's manual that describes use of the cruise control. They don't usually advise against going to sleep or moving to the back seat because its intuitive that the driver must stay in the driver's seat.


You'd like to think so, but nowadays....

Whenever they make something idiot-proof then along comes smarter idiots.

And there's that urban legend about the guy in the RV who set the cruise control and went to the back for a nap.
 

Sea Rider

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Sep 20, 2008
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12,345
Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

A friend of mine who is not well eductaed with outboards broke a new yam 15 on a barrel, but fried the engine with less than 2 hours due to leaving engine disregarded on barrel, excessive 25:1 water oil mess runing through entire cooling water system and worst of all severe overheat as the engine was peeing outside barrel producing excesively heated low water level not cooling engine properly. It's like leaving a disregarded hose while using muffs...

Happy Boating
 

JimS123

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Re: Is it ok to break-in a motor on a stand?

You'd like to think so, but nowadays....


And there's that urban legend about the guy in the RV who set the cruise control and went to the back for a nap.

The basis for my comment!
 
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